Pitch classifications provided by the Gameday Algorithm and may be inaccurate.Pitch Type LWTS correspond to how many runs were likely to score on a particular pitch based on average run expectancy when each pitch was thrown and what happened as a result. Negative scores indicate more effective pitches. Time to Plate is the time, in seconds, that it takes an average pitch of this type to reach the plate. This is strongly correlated with velocity, but also factors in movement.

In setting up the White Sox bullpen, general manager Ken Williams said Friday that the coaching staff and front-office personnel were in agreement on one thing: They wanted Jesse Crain and Matt Thornton available for the eighth inning and maybe the seventh inning on some occasions.

“We all know in a game that [the] ninth inning doesn’t necessarily mean you’re going to have the toughest hitters up,” Williams said. “The situation to win the game might be in the seventh or the eighth inning, so to have those guys available and interchangeable for that kind of fit everything together.”

After that decision was made, the final call came down between rookies Addison Reed or Hector Santiago for closer. Santiago’s screwball to combat right-handed hitters from a left-handed pitcher helped his cause, as did his 95-mph fastball.

“Aggressiveness, and he can spot it from both sides of the plate and then turn it over with a changeup and then the screwball that you can’t really practice,” said Williams of Santiago. “And if you only see it on occasion, it can really screw you up.

“So, I think we were all privately thinking that. Then when we came together for a meeting and the subject was brought up, no one was caught off guard or surprised. So we just kind of came to the deal together.”

Santiago picked his third save in three chances during Friday’s 5-2 victory over the Tigers, striking out two in the ninth inning. Reed made his fourth consecutive scoreless appearance and Thornton made his fifth consecutive scoreless appearance.

Pitch classifications provided by the Gameday Algorithm and may be inaccurate.Pitch Type LWTS correspond to how many runs were likely to score on a particular pitch based on average run expectancy when each pitch was thrown and what happened as a result. Negative scores indicate more effective pitches.Time to Plate is the time, in seconds, that it takes an average pitch of this type to reach the plate. This is strongly correlated with velocity, but also factors in movement.

April 8, 2012

Addison Reed didn’t start throwing a cutter until about a month ago, when White Sox bullpen coach Juan Nieves was playing around with his pitch grips and had him throw it. The rookie right-hander broke out about three or four during his scoreless seventh in Friday’s 3-2 loss and liked the results.

“I’ve liked it ever since I threw it for the first time in the ‘pen,” said Reed. “It’s a pitch that is still developing, but I feel pretty good about it. It’s not that much different from my slider, grip-wise and the way you throw it.”

Reed had been focusing on refining his changeup during the early portion of Spring Training. But he stuck to fastballs and cutters in retiring the Rangers’ Yorvit Torrealba and Ian Kinsler on fly balls and catching David Murphy looking. Reed does plan to work the changeup back into rotation this season.

“Once I start seeing teams more often,” Reed said. “That way they aren’t just sitting on the two pitches. They see I have that third pitch and I can throw it for a strike.”

April 6, 2012

Robin Ventura hasn’t named a closer, although that may just be a formality — it looks like the White Sox manager will use multiple pitchers in the ninth inning based on matchups:

Given the Sox don’t have anyone with extensive closer experience at the MLB level, this is a refreshing strategy. It’ll allow Ventura to ease Addison Reed into save situations by using him in low or medium-leverage save spots (like a two or three-run lead). And it’ll allow Ventura to pick and choose when to use Matt Thornton, hopefully in the highest-leverage situation (be it the seventh, eighth or ninth inning).

On Thursday’s workout day, pitching coach Don Cooper said there would be no closer by committee. But before Friday’s setback, Ventura said that matchups could determine who actually pitches the ninth.

“At some point, it’s not going to be the same guy all the time,” Ventura said. “And not necessarily you think ahead as a bullpen committee, but a guy coming in the ninth, it will end up being different at some points of the season. Yeah, depending on how guys do versus certain teams and matchups. If we had Mariano Rivera, I’d be able to tell everyone I have a closer.”

Pitch classifications provided by the Gameday Algorithm and may be inaccurate. Pitch Type LWTS correspond to how many runs were likely to score on a particular pitch based on average run expectancy when each pitch was thrown and what happened as a result. Negative scores indicate more effective pitches. Time to Plate is the time, in seconds, that it takes an average pitch of this type to reach the plate. This is strongly correlated with velocity, but also factors in movement.

Watch live on CSN-TV as Chris Sale gets the start in the first of two exhibition games vs. the Astros at Minute Maid Park today at 7:05 p.m. CT. Four closing candidates are also scheduled to pitch, including Addison Reed, Matt Thornton, Hector Santiago, and Jesse Crain, as well as rookie reliever Nate Jones. Boxscore | Gameday

The game is, also, carried live on MLB.TV’s free game of the day and Gameday Audio.

Watch live on CSN-TV as Jake Peavy takes the hill when the Sox are hosted by the Reds today at 3:05 p.m. CT. Look for the right-hander to throw fewer innings and fewer pitches in comparison to his Minor League start this past Tuesday (3 innings and/or 70 pitches), giving Zach Stewart ample time and opportunity to work two or three innings in relief, with Addison Reed, Matt Thornton and Hector Santiago also scheduled to throw. The White Sox are expected to throw out their everyday lineup, with the exception of Kosuke Fukudome in right instead of Alex Rios. Gameday | Boxscore

With those moves, the White Sox have 12 pitches, two catchers, six infielders and five outfielders set to break camp. Eduardo Escobar was selected as the final position player, as expected, while Zach Stewart and Nate Jones round out the seven-man bullpen.

In that relief crew, the White Sox have four players with 70 days of big-league experience or less and three in Addison Reed, Jones and Hector Santiago, with 30 days or less. General manager Ken Williams said Saturday that he knew two weeks ago Jones and his fastball in the high 90s would make the team.

Jones added a cutter/slider to his repertoire last season and has worked on his changeup over the past six weeks. He showed that change during his one inning of work Friday against the Royals, bouncing back from walking the first two hitters he faced to pitch a scoreless inning

March 17, 2012

Rookie reliever Addison Reed, the organization’s No. 1 prospect, has added a cutter to his fastball, slider and changeup. He discovered it almost by accident while “messing around with grips” in a bullpen session with coach Juan Nieves.

“It feels awesome, so we’ll see what happens with it,” he said. “If I have all those pitches, that’s just one more thing (hitters) have to be thinking about.”

MLB.com surveyed a handful of White Sox players over the past few days, looking for one sentence to describe Ventura’s managerial start. Most players went deeper than the required basic statement, but through the first quarter of Spring Training, there seems to be nothing but strong support for Ventura’s debut camp.

“I mean, it’s almost, I don’t want to sound corny, but he’s almost like it’s too good to be true,” said White Sox designated hitter Adam Dunn. “He’s unbelievable. I’m not just saying that. I feel like he’s still a player but yet he’ll get on you, he’ll jump on you.

“He’s got that fine line down really well early. He has a lot of respect coming toward him and I think he realizes it, too. He’s in a tough position, but I respect him from, I still remember him as a player, how good of a player he was playing against him. He has all my respect.”